Overview

Matt VanWasshnova concentrates his practice on representing public and private companies in a broad range of corporate and securities law matters. 

Matt’s practice has a particular emphasis on complex domestic and cross-border business transactions, including leveraged buyouts, mergers, acquisitions, divestitures, equity and debt financing transactions, recapitalizations, executive employment and equity incentive arrangements, and joint ventures. Matt executes these transactions on behalf of public companies, advising boards of directors, board committees and management; and on behalf of private equity funds, family offices, independent sponsors and their respective portfolio companies, advising a host of involved parties. 

Matt also regularly counsels public and private companies on corporate governance issues, fiduciary duty matters (both generally and in the M&A context), compliance with the U.S. federal securities laws, and, as applicable, compliance with stock exchange listing standards.

In addition to his client work, Matt has worked on variety of special projects and served on various firm committees related to, among other matters, diversity and inclusion, business development and information technology. 

Services

Practice Areas

Industries

Experience

Representative Matters

Private Equity

  • Advised a Michigan-based private equity client and its portfolio companies with general corporate and commercial matters and over 70 acquisitions, recapitalizations, and divestitures
  • Advised Utah-based private equity client with the sale of a Washington-based aerospace supplier to a Fortune 100 company
  • Assisted Washington-based private equity client with its $75 million acquisition of a California-based wholesale food business

Capital Markets and Public Company Matters

  • Served in an SEC counsel capacity to NASDAQ-listed Tier 1 automotive supplier, assisting the company with various governance and securities matters, including a $175 million shelf registration statement and a $41.25 million underwritten public offering
  • Represented NASDAQ-listed pharmaceutical company in connection with a reverse merger with a privately held pharmaceutical company
  • Represented NASDAQ-listed developer and manufacturer of thermal management technologies with various governance and transaction-related matters, including several acquisitions and the sale of its industrial test chamber business
  • Represented NASDAQ-listed media company with acquisitions and sales of online businesses
  • Represented NYSE-listed Tier 1 automotive supplier with a $145 million acquisition of a telematics company
  • Advised NASDAQ-listed company on several strategic acquisitions and various governance and securities matters, including U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) filings, a $200 million Rule 144A offering of senior notes, an A/B exchange offer, and the implementation of a stockholder rights plan
  • Assisted NYSE-listed company with a $175 million underwritten public offering and various SEC filings
  • Counseled privately held company on a $275 million Rule 144A offering of senior notes Assisted board of directors of NASDAQ-listed company in connection with hostile takeover bid
  • Represented the special committee of the board of directors of a company in connection with the sale of the company to a Canadian-based public company

Debt Financing and Restructuring

  • Assisted Michigan-based private equity client with:
    • $110 million secured revolving credit facility and term loan
    • $16 million mezzanine financing for a national security alarm provider
    • $50 million secured revolving credit facility and term loan
    • $13 million mezzanine financing for a national medical alert company
  • Represented Michigan-based private equity client with several financing transactions
  • Represented TSX-listed Canadian public company with:
    • $12 million secured ABL revolver
    • $8 million revolving term loan
    • $2 million cash flow term loan

Prior Experience

  • Denso International America, Inc., Business Operations and Planning, Senior Analyst
  • University of Michigan, Office of the General Counsel, Law Student Clerk
  • Judge Patrick J. Duggan, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Judicial Extern

Clerkships

  • Judge Paul D. Borman, U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Michigan, Law Clerk

Credentials

Education

Admissions

Court Admissions

Recognition

Awards

  • Michigan Super Lawyers, Recognized as a Rising Star, 2013-2018

Professional & Community Involvement

American Bar Association

  • Business Law Section

State Bar of Michigan

  • Business Law Section

Association for Corporate Growth, Detroit Chapter

826michigan

  • Board Chair (2018-present)
  • Board of Directors (2016-present)

News & Insights

News

  • Matthew R. VanWasshnova is featured in the Washtenaw County Legal News article “VanWasshnova named to 826michigan board”
    Media |
  • Matthew R. VanWasshnova is mentioned as counsel to Bloomer Plastics Inc. and Huron Capital Partners in the Deal Pipeline article “Bloomer Plastics acquires Optimum Plastics”
    Media |
  • Sara J. Brundage, Kimberly A. Dudek, Charles W. Duncan, Teymour S. El-Tahry, Scott D. Geromette, Steven J. Migliore, Angela Epolito Sprecher and Matthew R. VanWasshnova are mentioned in DBusiness article “Honigman Names 8 New Partners”
    Media |

Events

  • Transactions Track: Private Equity in M&A Health Care Deals, Health Law Institute, 24th Annual Seminar
    Event | | Presenter
  • What is an Add-On Acquisition? Perspectives from All Sides of the Table
    Event | Detroit, MI | | Moderator
  • Due Diligence in Mergers and Acquisitions
    Event | Bloomfield Hills, MI | | | Presenter
  • Private Equity Career Panel
    Event | Ann Arbor, MI | | | Panelist

Publications

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